Juice'd Cafe, opening soon in Fall River, makes healthy bold and easy

With “grass” on the wall and a clean-eating menu of smoothies, fresh-pressed juices, salads and healthy burritos, Juice’d Cafe seems more like it should be opening in California.

But in a few days, Fall River will have its own California-style healthy cafe, just in time to support new year’s healthy eating resolutions.

Juice’d Cafe owners Luis and Stacey Gonsalves said the new cafe is a dream they’ve been thinking about for at least the past three years. Fitness and eating wholesome, unprocessed food is a way of life for the couple. And now, with Juice’d Cafe, they can share their interest in healthy fare with diners. Their dream for the cafe got a big boost last year when Luis was selected for the EforAll Southcoast entrepreneurship program, which provided a $3,000 grant and four months of business training. The Gonsalves own the Plymouth Avenue shopping center where Juice’d Cafe is located. Their two other businesses, Shear Genius barber shop and Ms. Shear Genuis hair salon are next door to the new cafe.

Slated to officially open Monday, Jan. 16, Juice’d Cafe will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner Mondays through Fridays; and breakfast and lunch on Saturdays. On this particular day last week, eager diners were already knocking on the door to find out when it will be opening.

Offerings include freshly pressed juices (including wheatgrass), smoothies, and smoothie bowls with an assortment of toppings options including fruit, granola, nuts, seeds and shredded coconut. The “Hawaiian Gold, one of their signature juices, is made with pineapple, apple, mint, lemon and romaine lettuce. The Happy Gorilla smoothie has banana, chocolate chips and almond milk with a protein mix add-in.

“We’ll have a bunch of boosts: protein powder, bee pollen, vitamin B12, for people to add in,” said Stacey, who admits to being the healthier eater of the two.

For burritos, the choices include the Zeus Burrito with feta cheese, lettuce greens, tabouli and quinoa and the Buffalo Chicken with mixed greens, brown rice, lettuce, cheese, and their signature garlic sauce. “It combines what we like to eat with what we hear people talk about what they want, like the buffalo chicken,” said Stacey.

After looking into several brands of organic coffee, Luis said they decided on Plymouth-based Speedwell, a small batch, craft-roasted brand. They will also be offering cold-brewed, “nitro” iced coffee.

New employee Julie McGlynn, former owner of the Curves franchise nearby, said, “I’m excited about it and I know a lot of people who are excited about it.” And almost on cue, one of her former clients from Curves knocked on the door to see when it would be opening.

In response, the Gonsalves offered the eager customer her first sample of a smoothie bowl made with a fruit smoothie topped with granola, banana slices and shaved coconut.

Juice’d Cafe is located at 1475 Plymouth Ave. Hours, when it opens, will be Mondays through Fridays 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed Sundays. For more information, visit www.thejuicedcafe.com.